HOWDY HO ELDER!
You're sounding great! The MTC sounds like a lot of fun. Hours of classes may not sound like fun to you right now... but I really miss school. Every time I think of the MTC I think of my friend's crazy pictures of them upside down on ironing boards, pointing to their mission on a big map etc. I also think of all the times I volunteered with Lessa in the call center. She was much better at talking to people than I was. You are like her- you'll do great. Leif says looking back, at the time he thought he did good at the TLC- but maybe he stunk. He also says you're right about food being competitive- but he says its up to you to beat his record of the number of fried eggs eaten in one week:........ 24! Sometimes he'd get six or seven at a time. He loved them. Oh boy.
It was great to hear from you. Ann says I'm supposed to tell you about a blog she made for you. (Even though you can't look). elderjethro.blogspot.com She's uploading your letters onto it so everyone can read it- and she says if you want, tell us which friends you want to have access, and we can tell them about it- it will save you letter writing time. Kind of fun. She put the Ecuador flag and the Guayaquil temple on it. I'm an editor. :D
Want to hear a cool quote I hear.... oh, 3 years ago. I plan on framing it one of these days.
Justification is lowering ones ideals to ones actions.
Repentance is raising ones actions to ones ideals.
It gave me a lot to think about. Maybe you just think I'm strange.
Well, I need to go, but I thought I'd drop you a line and say hello. I hope you don't drop your pillow tonight. If it keeps up we'll make you some sort of pillow strap or send you velcro. Poor guy.
Go Elder Go! Work Hard, Be Good.
Love you tons.
Leif and Christy
(and Hyrum too- but he's asleep right now.)
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
Mission History
Written by David DainesRevised and updated by Troy Young
Ecuador was dedicated for missionary work in October 1965 by Elder Spencer W. Kimball. The first converts were the taxi drivers who took Elder Kimball to the Panecillo Hill for the dedication. He was impressed to invite them to listen to the prayer, and they were touched by the Spirit.
From 1965 to 1970, missionaries in Ecuador belonged to the Andes Mission with headquarters in Lima, Peru. In 1970 the Ecuador Mission was formed, with its headquarters in Quito. The first president was Louis Latimer. President Heward presided during 1973-76, then David Ferrell from 1976 to 1979.
From 1965 on, missionaries worked in Guayaquil, and converts were more numerous on the Coast than in the Sierra. Still, the work took years to blossom into what it is now. It took five years for membership to reach one thousand. That's an average of 200 per year in the whole country! Between 1970 and 1975, 10,000 converts joined the Church, then between 1975 and 1980 another 15,000 were baptized. The work accelerated.
In 1978, two milestones were achieved related to Guayaquil. The first stake in Ecuador was organized there, and the mission was divided to form the Ecuador Guayaquil Mission, presided by President William "Jack" Mitchell. By the time President Mitchell left in 1981, there were five stakes in Guayaquil and one in Portoviejo/Manta.
During 1981, three different presidents directed the mission. After President Mitchell left in July, he was succeeded by President Dale Inkley. A few months later the Inkleys had to return home because of urgent family matters, and President James Jesperson, who was serving as Regional Representative for Ecuador, was called to preside. Later he became the official mission president, serving until mid-1983.
In March 1982 the First Presidency announced plans to build a temple in Guayaquil. Funds were raised, a site was purchased, and members began to prepare themselves. Over the years since 1982 there have been setbacks due to various factors, so members have traveled to Lima, where the temple was dedicated in 1986. President Hinckley selected a new, more suitable site, and ground was broken in August of 1997.
President John Berge presided 1983-86, followed by J. Lynn Shawcroft 1986-89, and Walter Gonzalez 1989-92. The mission was divided in 1991, and Daniel Johnson arrived to preside the North Mission. He was succeeded by President Ramon Antonio Alvarez. James Aulestia presided over the South Mission from 1992-95, and then took charge when the missions were recombined in 1995.
President Aulestia was replaced by President Pablo Fernandez. When the mission was redivided in 1995, President Fernandez was assigned to the Guayaquil South Mission. President B. Renato Maldonado was called to preside over the newly recreated Guayaquil North Mission. President
Robert S. Gabbitas succeeded President Blanco in the South Mission in 1998, and President Maldonado will be followed by President W. David Terry in 1999.Click here for more information about the presidents of the Guayaquil Missions.
Except for the very early years, missionary work has been more productive around Guayaquil than in most other missions in the world at a given moment. During the early 90s, there were times when Guayaquil was the leading baptizing mission in the world. As of 1998 there are roughly 139,000 members of the Church in Ecuador, roughly three fourths of them on the Coast (between Esmeraldas and Machala).
Despite the folk histories that all missionaries all over the world tell about how bad things were in the "old mission" - before they arrived - the overwhelming majority of converts in Ecuador were brought to the gospel by the honest, inspired efforts of full-time missionaries and members and, of course, the movings of the Holy Spirit. It is however also true that in the battle to keep them close to the gospel, the casualties have outnumbered the five-years-or-more survivors. Nevertheless, as time goes on, the advantages mount for holding on to new Ecuadorian converts in stake of Zion, Institutes of Religion and (some day) temples.
In 1987, the Milagro District and Peninsular District were formed in a reorganization that left three Guayaquil Stakes in place of five. Before long, new stakes were again being formed in Guayaquil, then the mission districts of Machala and Milagro became stakes.
Some of the memorable events over the years (besides those already mentioned) include: Jan '81 conference presided by Elder McConkie; regional conferences: 1985 with Elder Oaks, 1989 with Elder Maxwell, 1993 with Elder Scott; impromtu conference with President Hinckley in 1986; first visit by a president of the Church in 1997 (when President Hinckley attended the groundbreaking for the Guayaquil Temple).
Of great importance to the development of the Church has been the establishment of the seminary and institute programs for the youth. The Guayaquil Institute of Religion was formed in 1985, later to be divided in two (one at Norte, one at Centenario). With the Institute program as a social and spiritual support, hundreds of LDS youth have found their spouses, and the wedding (sealing) trip to the Lima Temple has become the norm.
On August 1-2, 1999, the Guayaquil Temple was dedicated by President Gordon B. Hinckley, and opened for ordinance work on August 3. (Click here to see the Deseret News article.) The first mission president and matron were Lynn and Dorothea Shawcroft, who had presided over the
Ecuador Guayaquil Mission just over 10 years earlier.
First Letter Home...
Family!
Hey! I finally have email! I was writing you a letter, which I will still send, but I had to go do my laundry and lo and behold: computers! I only have half an hour to write, so I hope I can get in all I want to say in this period of time. This also means I will not have time to reread what I have said to make sure it is grammatically correct or if it even makes sense. Here we go:
Day 9 at the MTC. Wow. Has it really been that long? Maybe, maybe not. I can't decide. I am absolutely loving it here at the MTC. Day one was long. Lots of orientation meetings. Once I said bye to ya'll I went out the door, down the hall, past some a nice elderly couple, and out the door, past lots of yellow "New Missionary's this way" signs, and into a building. I was really lost. Once I was out of your sight it only took me 19 seconds to recompose myself. And as of yet I have only missed you guys once. Back to my story. In this new building I was in a really long line. The line finally led to a room where they gave me a manilla packet which had my white handbook, key, blue card, companion name (Elder Griswold), room number, and basic information. They then took my picture and gave me some medical information. I was then transfered to a new line and stood for 30+ minutes when I learned that I was in the wrong line and then stood in the "out of country line" for 30+ minutes. That line ended with them telling me that I needed to write home and have you guys fax in some information about some shots I had when I was a baby (please see pink slip in last letter)(please follow the instructions). Finally I was out of lines and made my way through more "New Missionary's this way" signs to the bookstore. At the bookstore they gave me tons of spanish and religeous books. Infact it was Gloria from my sigles ward who gave them to me (spencer, if you are in the singles ward, say hello to her for me, I actually saw her today and I think she stole my blue card. No fear, I got it back. I think she put it in my mailbox...). I then went to my room, met my companion, who is really cool, and went to go get my luggage. I only had a few minutes to unpack. I was the last missionary to show up in my room. We then had our first orientation meeting. I can't remember what was said. That night I met my Zone President and his councelors. They are really cool. The next day I had the opportunity to meet my teachers. Sister Saylor, Brother Taggart, and Brother Shummway. They are all really cool. No jokes. Sister Saylor is renouned as being the best teacher at the MTC and Everyone who knows Brother Taggart is really jeleous that we have him. Brother Shummway is new, we are his first district. Everyone likes him though. Sister Saylor, however, just graduated from BYU with her masters and will be leaving us next week. Brother Taggart is only temporary because Brother Shummway is away. So next week we get new teachers, not nearly as amazing as Sister Saylor or Brother Taggart, and they will leave us. O'well. We can't have the best of everything. We spend hours in class. The first day seemed like forever. No jokes. This day was long. We had many Large Group Meetings, hours in class, and were a little overwhelmed with the enormity of everything. I can't explain how we got through that full first day, but we did. Saturday was also cool. By the end of that day we had learned how to tesitify in spanish along with praying in spanish, something we learned thursday. AH! 11 minutes left. Faster! Saturday was our first day with Gym. I love gym. We play playa volleyball. (beach volleyball). My district (Elders: Johnson, Tayne, Peterson, Radmall, Allen, Sawyer, Griswold, Knudson, and Zanger) is way fun to play with. We all get along great, and we all have a common interest in having a good time (unless you count the district leader. Jeff was right when he told me that some missionaries can be a little too serious.) Sunday was good. We relax. And by relax, we have 7+ hours of meetings. We also have 7+ hours of study time. (give or take).Sundays are also really good because we have the opportunity to watch movies. Testiments was full so my companion and I went to a video presentation talk from Elder Holland. It was amazing. I think I am going to see another one of his vidoes next Sunday night. Monday: um... I don't remember monday. Tuesday: Mesmo. Oh! Devotional was really really good. A member of the 70 spoke to us and I am in the chior. Not that it is hard to be in. You just have to show up with your companion to practice. Wednesday: Blur. Our classes are now taught entirely in Spanish. Thursday: mesmo Friday: P-Day! Wow. Today. Crazy. I don't really know what I am going to do. I have so much to do. So much to study. Time flies. (5 minutes left). Me and my companion have been to the TEC a couple of times. We both have different teaching styles. I enjoy addressing the concerns of the investigators, my companion likes moving the lesson toward the committments. Both approaches are good, but we both go in separate directions and it has caused a bit of disunity. We have recognized it though and are working to make our lessons really good. I am excited for what we will be able to do together. The spirit is so strong here at the MTC. I really love it. I hope everything at home is going really well. Everything at the MTC is great. The food is good. I might get fat, I hope not. The food might get a little repetative. I will have to see. Remember, please use DearElder.com, I get your letters. Thanks so much for them. I don't have time on this email to read what people have to say.
Please send me addresses. I really need them.
Spencer and Mom. I sent you this email because you were the only addresses I could remember. Please forward it to the rest of the family. If anyone has questions write me. I will write/email back on Friday.
I love you all.
Your missionary stuck in the Provo MTC.
Elder Robinson
PS Elder Peterson broke his foot. Basketball is of the Devil.
Hey! I finally have email! I was writing you a letter, which I will still send, but I had to go do my laundry and lo and behold: computers! I only have half an hour to write, so I hope I can get in all I want to say in this period of time. This also means I will not have time to reread what I have said to make sure it is grammatically correct or if it even makes sense. Here we go:
Day 9 at the MTC. Wow. Has it really been that long? Maybe, maybe not. I can't decide. I am absolutely loving it here at the MTC. Day one was long. Lots of orientation meetings. Once I said bye to ya'll I went out the door, down the hall, past some a nice elderly couple, and out the door, past lots of yellow "New Missionary's this way" signs, and into a building. I was really lost. Once I was out of your sight it only took me 19 seconds to recompose myself. And as of yet I have only missed you guys once. Back to my story. In this new building I was in a really long line. The line finally led to a room where they gave me a manilla packet which had my white handbook, key, blue card, companion name (Elder Griswold), room number, and basic information. They then took my picture and gave me some medical information. I was then transfered to a new line and stood for 30+ minutes when I learned that I was in the wrong line and then stood in the "out of country line" for 30+ minutes. That line ended with them telling me that I needed to write home and have you guys fax in some information about some shots I had when I was a baby (please see pink slip in last letter)(please follow the instructions). Finally I was out of lines and made my way through more "New Missionary's this way" signs to the bookstore. At the bookstore they gave me tons of spanish and religeous books. Infact it was Gloria from my sigles ward who gave them to me (spencer, if you are in the singles ward, say hello to her for me, I actually saw her today and I think she stole my blue card. No fear, I got it back. I think she put it in my mailbox...). I then went to my room, met my companion, who is really cool, and went to go get my luggage. I only had a few minutes to unpack. I was the last missionary to show up in my room. We then had our first orientation meeting. I can't remember what was said. That night I met my Zone President and his councelors. They are really cool. The next day I had the opportunity to meet my teachers. Sister Saylor, Brother Taggart, and Brother Shummway. They are all really cool. No jokes. Sister Saylor is renouned as being the best teacher at the MTC and Everyone who knows Brother Taggart is really jeleous that we have him. Brother Shummway is new, we are his first district. Everyone likes him though. Sister Saylor, however, just graduated from BYU with her masters and will be leaving us next week. Brother Taggart is only temporary because Brother Shummway is away. So next week we get new teachers, not nearly as amazing as Sister Saylor or Brother Taggart, and they will leave us. O'well. We can't have the best of everything. We spend hours in class. The first day seemed like forever. No jokes. This day was long. We had many Large Group Meetings, hours in class, and were a little overwhelmed with the enormity of everything. I can't explain how we got through that full first day, but we did. Saturday was also cool. By the end of that day we had learned how to tesitify in spanish along with praying in spanish, something we learned thursday. AH! 11 minutes left. Faster! Saturday was our first day with Gym. I love gym. We play playa volleyball. (beach volleyball). My district (Elders: Johnson, Tayne, Peterson, Radmall, Allen, Sawyer, Griswold, Knudson, and Zanger) is way fun to play with. We all get along great, and we all have a common interest in having a good time (unless you count the district leader. Jeff was right when he told me that some missionaries can be a little too serious.) Sunday was good. We relax. And by relax, we have 7+ hours of meetings. We also have 7+ hours of study time. (give or take).Sundays are also really good because we have the opportunity to watch movies. Testiments was full so my companion and I went to a video presentation talk from Elder Holland. It was amazing. I think I am going to see another one of his vidoes next Sunday night. Monday: um... I don't remember monday. Tuesday: Mesmo. Oh! Devotional was really really good. A member of the 70 spoke to us and I am in the chior. Not that it is hard to be in. You just have to show up with your companion to practice. Wednesday: Blur. Our classes are now taught entirely in Spanish. Thursday: mesmo Friday: P-Day! Wow. Today. Crazy. I don't really know what I am going to do. I have so much to do. So much to study. Time flies. (5 minutes left). Me and my companion have been to the TEC a couple of times. We both have different teaching styles. I enjoy addressing the concerns of the investigators, my companion likes moving the lesson toward the committments. Both approaches are good, but we both go in separate directions and it has caused a bit of disunity. We have recognized it though and are working to make our lessons really good. I am excited for what we will be able to do together. The spirit is so strong here at the MTC. I really love it. I hope everything at home is going really well. Everything at the MTC is great. The food is good. I might get fat, I hope not. The food might get a little repetative. I will have to see. Remember, please use DearElder.com, I get your letters. Thanks so much for them. I don't have time on this email to read what people have to say.
Please send me addresses. I really need them.
Spencer and Mom. I sent you this email because you were the only addresses I could remember. Please forward it to the rest of the family. If anyone has questions write me. I will write/email back on Friday.
I love you all.
Your missionary stuck in the Provo MTC.
Elder Robinson
PS Elder Peterson broke his foot. Basketball is of the Devil.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Mission History
Written by David DainesRevised and updated by Troy Young Ecuador was dedicated for missionary work in October 1965 by Elder Spencer W. Kimball. The first converts were the taxi drivers who took Elder Kimball to the Panecillo Hill for the dedication. He was impressed to invite them to listen to the prayer, and they were touched by the Spirit.
From 1965 to 1970, missionaries in Ecuador belonged to the Andes Mission with headquarters in Lima, Peru. In 1970 the Ecuador Mission was formed, with its headquarters in Quito. The first president was Louis Latimer. President Heward presided during 1973-76, then David Ferrell from 1976 to 1979.
From 1965 on, missionaries worked in Guayaquil, and converts were more numerous on the Coast than in the Sierra. Still, the work took years to blossom into what it is now. It took five years for membership to reach one thousand. That's an average of 200 per year in the whole country! Between 1970 and 1975, 10,000 converts joined the Church, then between 1975 and 1980 another 15,000 were baptized. The work accelerated.
In 1978, two milestones were achieved related to Guayaquil. The first stake in Ecuador was organized there, and the mission was divided to form the Ecuador Guayaquil Mission, presided by President William "Jack" Mitchell. By the time President Mitchell left in 1981, there were five stakes in Guayaquil and one in Portoviejo/Manta.
During 1981, three different presidents directed the mission. After President Mitchell left in July, he was succeeded by President Dale Inkley. A few months later the Inkleys had to return home because of urgent family matters, and President James Jesperson, who was serving as Regional Representative for Ecuador, was called to preside. Later he became the official mission president, serving until mid-1983.
In March 1982 the First Presidency announced plans to build a temple in Guayaquil. Funds were raised, a site was purchased, and members began to prepare themselves. Over the years since 1982 there have been setbacks due to various factors, so members have traveled to Lima, where the temple was dedicated in 1986. President Hinckley selected a new, more suitable site, and ground was broken in August of 1997.
President John Berge presided 1983-86, followed by J. Lynn Shawcroft 1986-89, and Walter Gonzalez 1989-92. The mission was divided in 1991, and Daniel Johnson arrived to preside the North Mission. He was succeeded by President Ramon Antonio Alvarez. James Aulestia presided over the South Mission from 1992-95, and then took charge when the missions were recombined in 1995.
President Aulestia was replaced by President Pablo Fernandez. When the mission was redivided in 1995, President Fernandez was assigned to the Guayaquil South Mission. President B. Renato Maldonado was called to preside over the newly recreated Guayaquil North Mission. President
Robert S. Gabbitas succeeded President Blanco in the South Mission in 1998, and President Maldonado will be followed by President W. David Terry in 1999.Click here for more information about the presidents of the Guayaquil Missions.
Except for the very early years, missionary work has been more productive around Guayaquil than in most other missions in the world at a given moment. During the early 90s, there were times when Guayaquil was the leading baptizing mission in the world. As of 1998 there are roughly 139,000 members of the Church in Ecuador, roughly three fourths of them on the Coast (between Esmeraldas and Machala).
Despite the folk histories that all missionaries all over the world tell about how bad things were in the "old mission" - before they arrived - the overwhelming majority of converts in Ecuador were brought to the gospel by the honest, inspired efforts of full-time missionaries and members and, of course, the movings of the Holy Spirit. It is however also true that in the battle to keep them close to the gospel, the casualties have outnumbered the five-years-or-more survivors. Nevertheless, as time goes on, the advantages mount for holding on to new Ecuadorian converts in stake of Zion, Institutes of Religion and (some day) temples.
In 1987, the Milagro District and Peninsular District were formed in a reorganization that left three Guayaquil Stakes in place of five. Before long, new stakes were again being formed in Guayaquil, then the mission districts of Machala and Milagro became stakes.
Some of the memorable events over the years (besides those already mentioned) include: Jan '81 conference presided by Elder McConkie; regional conferences: 1985 with Elder Oaks, 1989 with Elder Maxwell, 1993 with Elder Scott; impromtu conference with President Hinckley in 1986; first visit by a president of the Church in 1997 (when President Hinckley attended the groundbreaking for the Guayaquil Temple).
Of great importance to the development of the Church has been the establishment of the seminary and institute programs for the youth. The Guayaquil Institute of Religion was formed in 1985, later to be divided in two (one at Norte, one at Centenario). With the Institute program as a social and spiritual support, hundreds of LDS youth have found their spouses, and the wedding (sealing) trip to the Lima Temple has become the norm.
On August 1-2, 1999, the Guayaquil Temple was dedicated by President Gordon B. Hinckley, and opened for ordinance work on August 3. (Click here to see the Deseret News article.) The first mission president and matron were Lynn and Dorothea Shawcroft, who had presided over the
Ecuador Guayaquil Mission just over 10 years earlier.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
23 May - First Letter home
Mom and Dad
Until I have an email account this will be my official letter for the week.
The MTC is absolutely amazing. I am really loving my stay here. Everyone says that the first few days are spirit prison, however, I have found it immensly satisfying and very spiritual. Included with this letter is my schedule (with my p-day blocked out so you won't run into me while I am at the temple). And as you can see I am very busy. All my time is used with classes. Also included is a map. The MTC is small but I still have not seen it all. I live in my classroom, eatin the cafeteria, and return to my room to sleep.
I have only been here for 3 1/2 dyas and I can already pray and bear my testimony in Spanish. 90% of my conversation is now in Spanish. No, I am not very good at Spanish, but we Elders have become proficient in finding ways to communicate with the little we know.
Today is a half p-day (Saturday) and as such we finally are done with orientation and had some gym time. My district consists of 10 Elders. It was great to go play sand volleyball with them today. It is a great/funny group of Elders that can have fun in any situation.
My companion and Iget along great. Elder Griswold and I have many great insights to share with one another. His testimony is amazingly strong, I think we work great together. We love quizing each other on Spanish vocab and can learn 39 words in 15 minutes! (We did it this morning.)
The food here is good. I don't think I will gain much, if any weight, but you never know. If you have ANY quaetions write me a letter through dearelder.com, I will write back on my p-day.
Dad - no fear. I received your letter and I really appreciated it. I have always had the hardest time holding a grudge, even against you. I can never remember why I am mad. Forgive me for my stiff neckedness the past 19 years.
Mom - you letter was great. I really hope everything at home, in the garden, at school, and with the animals works out hte next two years. Tell me how everything goes.
Padowan (Spencer) - you will probably have graduated by the time you read this. (I can't mail until Tuesday . . . Sunday, Monday a holiday, so Tuesday.) Isn't it so wonderful to be done with your first 12 years of school. Only 8+ more to go! I still am in denial of the fact I won't see you for 3 years. Wow. Best of luck with everything.
I do have a duty as a missionary: Yo se que dios es nuestro padre celestial y nos ama. Yo se que Jusucristo vive. Testifico que Jesucristo es nuestro salvador! Creo que Jose Smith fue un profeta. Tengo un testimonio que El Libro de Mormon es verdadero. En el nombre de Jesucristo. Amen.
Short, simple, yet I love stopping missionaries and bearing it to them. This letter is getting long so only a few more points: I love you all. I feel at home still (as in: I can see the lake from my classroom). Homesickness probably won't set in until I leave the valley and arrive in Ecuador. My teachers are awesome. I don't have many addresses, so if people want me to write them, they have to write me first (Ann's dearelder.com letter did not include an address like Christy's did). I plan to take some pictures soon. I hope I can get them to you. Probably not until the 28th.
I am still here for another 8 weeks. Best wishes to everyone! Tell me if I forgot to mention something.
Love the elder who drops his pillow every night and sleeps on the top bunk so he can't jump down to get it (1 am) because of noise so he sleeps somewhat fitfully, and pillowless.
Elder Robinson
Until I have an email account this will be my official letter for the week.
The MTC is absolutely amazing. I am really loving my stay here. Everyone says that the first few days are spirit prison, however, I have found it immensly satisfying and very spiritual. Included with this letter is my schedule (with my p-day blocked out so you won't run into me while I am at the temple). And as you can see I am very busy. All my time is used with classes. Also included is a map. The MTC is small but I still have not seen it all. I live in my classroom, eatin the cafeteria, and return to my room to sleep.
I have only been here for 3 1/2 dyas and I can already pray and bear my testimony in Spanish. 90% of my conversation is now in Spanish. No, I am not very good at Spanish, but we Elders have become proficient in finding ways to communicate with the little we know.
Today is a half p-day (Saturday) and as such we finally are done with orientation and had some gym time. My district consists of 10 Elders. It was great to go play sand volleyball with them today. It is a great/funny group of Elders that can have fun in any situation.
My companion and Iget along great. Elder Griswold and I have many great insights to share with one another. His testimony is amazingly strong, I think we work great together. We love quizing each other on Spanish vocab and can learn 39 words in 15 minutes! (We did it this morning.)
The food here is good. I don't think I will gain much, if any weight, but you never know. If you have ANY quaetions write me a letter through dearelder.com, I will write back on my p-day.
Dad - no fear. I received your letter and I really appreciated it. I have always had the hardest time holding a grudge, even against you. I can never remember why I am mad. Forgive me for my stiff neckedness the past 19 years.
Mom - you letter was great. I really hope everything at home, in the garden, at school, and with the animals works out hte next two years. Tell me how everything goes.
Padowan (Spencer) - you will probably have graduated by the time you read this. (I can't mail until Tuesday . . . Sunday, Monday a holiday, so Tuesday.) Isn't it so wonderful to be done with your first 12 years of school. Only 8+ more to go! I still am in denial of the fact I won't see you for 3 years. Wow. Best of luck with everything.
I do have a duty as a missionary: Yo se que dios es nuestro padre celestial y nos ama. Yo se que Jusucristo vive. Testifico que Jesucristo es nuestro salvador! Creo que Jose Smith fue un profeta. Tengo un testimonio que El Libro de Mormon es verdadero. En el nombre de Jesucristo. Amen.
Short, simple, yet I love stopping missionaries and bearing it to them. This letter is getting long so only a few more points: I love you all. I feel at home still (as in: I can see the lake from my classroom). Homesickness probably won't set in until I leave the valley and arrive in Ecuador. My teachers are awesome. I don't have many addresses, so if people want me to write them, they have to write me first (Ann's dearelder.com letter did not include an address like Christy's did). I plan to take some pictures soon. I hope I can get them to you. Probably not until the 28th.
I am still here for another 8 weeks. Best wishes to everyone! Tell me if I forgot to mention something.
Love the elder who drops his pillow every night and sleeps on the top bunk so he can't jump down to get it (1 am) because of noise so he sleeps somewhat fitfully, and pillowless.
Elder Robinson
--
"Education's purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one."
-- Malcolm S. Forbes
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
MTC Sendoff
Elder Robinson-
Well, by the time that you get this the MTC will be your permanent residence. I'm not sure how you are feeling right now but I wanted to offer some words of encouragment. In Doctrine and Covenants 68, verses 5 and 6, we read:
“Behold, this is the promise of the Lord unto you, O ye my servants.
“Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you; and ye shall bear record of me, even Jesus Christ, that I am the Son of the living God, that I was, that I am, and that I am to come.”
I am so proud of you and your willingess to serve a mission, I know that you have heard this from a lot of people. And sometimes one may think (especially when you are surounded by sooo many missionaries) that you are just "one more", can it really make a difference? You are going to be an awesome missionary. You have been blessed with unique characteristics that will be a power and strength to you in Ecquador. You are so smart, others will recognize your intelligence and want to learn from you. You are sincere, funny and kind this will help you to be an excellent companion. Remember a companionship is like a marriage, you both have to be working together. Often the most difficult thing to do is apologize and admit fault. Sometimes we have to do this without completly understanding what we did wrong. But if you are always the first to apologize and fix a situation your companions will recognize your sincerity and respond positively. I don't imagine that every companion will be easy to get along with, thats ok. Learning to get along with each different one will be a key skill that will be so helpful to you in your future marriage, and relationships. Dad, has prepared you (unintentionally ) for this...so maybe you'll thank him :)
Remember that we have imperfections of body, imperfections of mind and intellect—that we are not perfect. And for that reason we are dependent on others. We must be self-sufficient ourselves, but that does not mean independent of help of others. We cannot gain a testimony without having the help of the Holy Ghost. Nor can the people that you serve gain a testimony with out you. Remember to pray constantly for those that you are teaching. Pray that you will be able to adapt to their needs, and serve them in a unique way. Missionary work is like buying a mission suit. Everyone needs to have the suit but one suit does not fit all. You have to have it tailored to fit right, so that the customer will like it. For some the restored news of eternal families is what they need initially for others the restored information of the Book of Mormon. The more your knowledge grows the better prepared you will be, to tune into the spirits promptings of what the Lord would have you teach them. This is a wonderful aspect of the change in missionary teaching. The discussions were a great tool, but with the new freedom to tailor your meetings you can give a unique lesson to those that you teach.Remember that I love you, Jeff and our family are so proud that you represent our familiy as the Lords servent at this time. Let us know if we can send you anything in particular. We'd love to help out in any way. Please dont' ever feel obligated to write back ( I mean this ) we know how busy you will be and we just hope that you'll read our letters. We never want you to feel like your family forgot you ! We can always get updates from mom and dad.Lots of Love
Ann & the rest of the Maas Family
Well, by the time that you get this the MTC will be your permanent residence. I'm not sure how you are feeling right now but I wanted to offer some words of encouragment. In Doctrine and Covenants 68, verses 5 and 6, we read:
“Behold, this is the promise of the Lord unto you, O ye my servants.
“Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you; and ye shall bear record of me, even Jesus Christ, that I am the Son of the living God, that I was, that I am, and that I am to come.”
I am so proud of you and your willingess to serve a mission, I know that you have heard this from a lot of people. And sometimes one may think (especially when you are surounded by sooo many missionaries) that you are just "one more", can it really make a difference? You are going to be an awesome missionary. You have been blessed with unique characteristics that will be a power and strength to you in Ecquador. You are so smart, others will recognize your intelligence and want to learn from you. You are sincere, funny and kind this will help you to be an excellent companion. Remember a companionship is like a marriage, you both have to be working together. Often the most difficult thing to do is apologize and admit fault. Sometimes we have to do this without completly understanding what we did wrong. But if you are always the first to apologize and fix a situation your companions will recognize your sincerity and respond positively. I don't imagine that every companion will be easy to get along with, thats ok. Learning to get along with each different one will be a key skill that will be so helpful to you in your future marriage, and relationships. Dad, has prepared you (unintentionally ) for this...so maybe you'll thank him :)
Remember that we have imperfections of body, imperfections of mind and intellect—that we are not perfect. And for that reason we are dependent on others. We must be self-sufficient ourselves, but that does not mean independent of help of others. We cannot gain a testimony without having the help of the Holy Ghost. Nor can the people that you serve gain a testimony with out you. Remember to pray constantly for those that you are teaching. Pray that you will be able to adapt to their needs, and serve them in a unique way. Missionary work is like buying a mission suit. Everyone needs to have the suit but one suit does not fit all. You have to have it tailored to fit right, so that the customer will like it. For some the restored news of eternal families is what they need initially for others the restored information of the Book of Mormon. The more your knowledge grows the better prepared you will be, to tune into the spirits promptings of what the Lord would have you teach them. This is a wonderful aspect of the change in missionary teaching. The discussions were a great tool, but with the new freedom to tailor your meetings you can give a unique lesson to those that you teach.Remember that I love you, Jeff and our family are so proud that you represent our familiy as the Lords servent at this time. Let us know if we can send you anything in particular. We'd love to help out in any way. Please dont' ever feel obligated to write back ( I mean this ) we know how busy you will be and we just hope that you'll read our letters. We never want you to feel like your family forgot you ! We can always get updates from mom and dad.Lots of Love
Ann & the rest of the Maas Family
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